MLB Insider Calls Superstar Slugger 'Ideal' Fit For New York Mets
Although New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns called acquiring another bat not an "essential" need, the team could certainly use a boost to their offense.
And there are still adequate options available to upgrade the DH spot.
According to MLB insider Jon Heyman of The New York Post, All-Star DH J.D. Martinez, who remains a free agent, would be an "ideal" fit for the Mets.
Martinez is coming off a bounce-back season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he made the NL All-Star team and slashed .271/.321/.572 with a .893 OPS, 33 home runs and 103 RBIs.
Beyond center fielder Harrison Bader, the Mets will trot out the same underperforming lineup as last year. They can certainly use another addition to their offense and a slugger of Martinez's caliber would put them over the top and be an excellent complement in the middle of the order to Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor.
The only two knocks against Martinez are that he is turning 37-years-old this season and has dealt with back issues in each of the past two campaigns.
Regardless, the upside of Martinez's bat outweigh the risks, as he has proven to be one of the best pure hitters in the game over the course of the past decade.
While 2024 is considered to be a transition year for the Mets, they intend to compete for a spot in the postseason, and adding Martinez would heighten their chances significantly.
